Machine for pressing hats.



Patented Ian. 30, I900.

No. 642,4l9.

H S, BLAKE.

MACHINE FOR PBESSING HATS.

Application filed Oct. 27, 1899.1

2 Sheets-Sheet l (No Model.)

No. 642,4l9. Patented Jan. 30, I900.

ms. BLAKE. MACHINE FOR PRESSING HATS.

(Application filed Oct. 27. 1899.;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

1' NORRIS PETERS on. PHOTQUTHQ, WASHINGTON u c NrTED STATES.

PATENT Error-z.

HERBERT s. BLAKE, or AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR PREssmc HATS.

srEcIEIcArIoN format part 0% Letters ma. N25. 642,419, dated. January 30, 1906. Application filed octets 27,1899. Serial No. 734,905. (Nomoclell) T0 ctZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT S. BLAKE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Amherst, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Pressing and Finishing Hats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for pressing and finishing hats, more especially straw hats. I

The object of the invention is to provide a machine or apparatus for the indicated purpose which shall be of simple construction, capable of -convenient and comparatively rapid operation, and,above all, capable of imparting the pressure and surface finishing to the hat in the most satisfactory manner.

To these ends the invention consists in the constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts, all substantially as hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims.

The improved machine or apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the hat-finishing press and novel dies combined therewith. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view above the movable die as seen on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, parts of the movable die being broken away and shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a similar view as seen at and below the section-line 3 3, Fig. 1, show ing the lower die, which is substantially stationary, parts of the latter being broken away and in horizontal section.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, Arepresents a framework of the press, comprising at a suitably low portion thereof the transverse girder or tie member, which constitutes the bench or table and on which is supported the lower male die 0, while above said die is the female die D, vertically guided and movable toward and from the lower die. The upper die is of invertedhat shape and provided with the external flange a, whereby to conform to the crown tip, crown side, and upper side of the brim of the hat to be finished.

Surrounding and secured to the dieD is the flanged casing or shell, between which and said die is the steam-space (1, whereby the circulation of steam may be maintained within the jacketed space for keeping the said die at a suitably high temperature to adapt it for the performance of its hat pressing and finishing work. q represents a steam-inlet pipe for supplying steam into the said jacketed space. The said dieD is constructed of metal, advantageously of zinc spelter, and the working surfaces thereof are finished smooth. The said die instead of being heated by steam may be heated by gas, electricity, or otherwise, the manner of or means for the heat maintenance constituting no part of this invention.

The lower die comprising novelties will be now described as to the parts in detail of which it is composed.

G represents a shallow basin or part of elliptical form and havinga central elliptical opening, the perimeter of said part Gexceeding that of the brim of the hats for which the die is designed to press and finish, and this part G, which also is advantageously of castiron, is supported on the cross member or bench B of the machine.

E represents the portion of the lower die which directly operates on the hat in conjunction with the female die, the same being composed of india-rubber in any of its elastic compounds and comprising the elliptical cup-shaped part of form corresponding to the interior of the die D, but normally of less bulk than sufficient to fill the space within said die, so that when the dies are brought the one into proximity to the other there will be a space intervening somewhat more than sufficient for the accommodation of the thickness of the material constituting the crown tip and crown side, and said part E, furthermore, comprises the elliptical base-flange c, which is vulcanized to the basin-shaped casting G and constituting a permanent part thereof. The said part G has the inturned ledge c, whereby the rubber may have an interlock and anchorage thereon, avoiding liability of the part E being stripped from the part G.

J represents what I term the base-plug of the die, the same consisting of a central portion f, closely fitting within the central opening g in the basin-like part G and protruding upwardly to about the height of the upper side of the flange e of the rubber appliance E, having its top flap to receive the support thereon of the metallic cup-shaped shell or casting M, said plug, furthermore, having the external flange 71, whereby by the bolts 1' passing through said flange which underlies the portion of the casting Gr adjacent the central hole therein and into the part G said part J is detachably secured to part G.

The aforementioned inverted-cup-shaped shell or casting M is externally of smaller size than the space Within the rubber appliance E, whereby the space as is created, and the said part M is provided with a number of apertures or ports j, forming communication from the chamber within part M to the inclosed space between the latter and the rubberappliance which surrounds and incloses it.

N represents a water-inlet pipe, and 0 represents a water-outlet pipe, with an intermediate connecting-conduit P, coupled to which is the pipe-section Q, entering the space within the shell M by screw-threading through the base-plug J.

71 represents a shut-off cock in the pipe P for preventing the inflow of water to and through pipe-section Q, and 0 represents a shut-01f cock between pipe-section Q and outlet pipe 0.

The above-described upper movable die D has connected thereto as a part thereof the casting R, constructed with the chairs or ear members 2, and the said casting R is horizontally extended and formed with verticallyapertu red members to, having guiding engagements with the guide-rods a of the press.

The movable die is operated by the duplicated set of toggles c, which are straightened out by the rocking movement imparted to the rock-shaft v by the operating-lever '0 said shaft 11 being by lever '0 and link 12 connected with the rod e, which constitutes or is coincident with the point of pivotal connection of the toggle members. The action imparted through the operating-lever o is to bring the movable die into proximity to the lower die, this position being represented by the dotted lines at the lower part of Fig. 1. There is provision for a secondary downward movement of the upper die, whereby after it has been brought down to be in proximity to and surround the crown-sidesportion of the lower die for a short period without imparting pressure at the crown tip and at the brim it may have the final further descending movement for establishing conditions for pressure at the crown tip and brim, and this secondary or supplemental movement is occasioned by reason of the peculiar articulation of the lower ends of the toggles with the earpieces which are provided as fixturesat the top of the jacketed movable die.

The lower end of each of the duplicated toggles r is formed hub-like or with a central aperture transversely therethrough, in which is fitted an eccentric w, and the eccentrics of both the toggles are united rigidly to the rod 10 the under side of which is seated in the apertures therefor in the earpieces t.

w represents an operating-lever secured to the rod 10 by means of which to turn such rod partially around, and therewith the coeentrics, which cause a bodily downward movement of the rod, which, being in bearing against the bases of the apertures there for in the earpieces 25, force the latter and the movable die downwardly in an extent corresponding to the throw of the eccentrics.

The connterbalancing-weight T is applied in the customary manner in die-presses for counterbalancing the upper movable die.

The dies for a given size and style of hat being provided in the press, the rough hat either bloeked-that is, brought into the proper shapeor unblocked is adj ustedupon and about the lower die. The toggle-levers are then operated to bring the upper die down to the position surrounding the crown sides and about as far as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The secondary downward pressure is then imparted, whereby the brim is pressed between the portions to and opt the dies. Water under pressure is then let into the chamber within the die O'by opening the cock n, thereby forcing through the expansion of the top and sides of the elastic part 0 the hat to and against the hot die D, im-i parting to it the required smooth glossy finish. The cock 0 is then opened, the one at having been closed, releasing and exhausting the water-pressure. The brim pressure-lever w is then thrown back and the press widely opened by swinging up the toggle-operating lever '0 permitting the removal of the hat and leaving the machine in readiness for the similar pressing and finishing operations on the next hat.

By the employment of this machine I am enabled to impart the finest and most satisfactory finish possible to attain in either high grade or inferior goods.

The part M, constructed suitably open to permit the passage of the water when ad-- mitted under pressure to the exterior thereof and which is of a shape corresponding to, but

of a size somewhat smaller than, the internal wall of the appliance E, constitutes an internal support for said part E, so that the same may not at any time be collapsed, but will maintain its proper relative position to and beneath the upper die for the reception thereabout of the hat to be finished and so that the upper die in descending will properly embrace the hat.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina hat pressing and finishing machine, the male die composed of the hat-shaped rubber part having tip-wall, crown-sides and brim-flange portions, a centrally-apertured metallic base G to which the brim-flange of the rubber is secured and thereby supported, base-plug J fitted in'the aperture of the said metallic base G, the water-supply pipe upwardly entering through said base-plug into the chamber thereabove within said rubber appliance, and means for controlling the inflow and outflow of water, combined with the female die having the opening therein slightly larger than the normal bulk of the tip and crown-sides portions of the said rubber appliance and having the brim-pressing flange a, and means for imparting the movements of the female die relatively to the male die, substantially as described.

2. In a hat pressing and finishing machine, the male die comprising tip, surrounding side walls, and brim-flange, and composed of elastic expansible material, and having a basewall and inclosing a fluid-chamber, means for introducing and exhausting the fluid thereinto and therefrom, and aninverted-cupshaped shellM located within said fluid-chamber with a separating-space between it and the internal wall of said rubber die, and having apertures leading from the said fluidchamber into said separating-space,combined with a metal female die having the opening therein slightly larger than the portion of the male die comprising the sides and tip and having the rim-pressing flange, and means for imparting, relatively, the movements of the one die toward and from the other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a hat pressing and finishing machine, the maledie composed of the hat-shaped rubber part having tip-wall, crown-sides wall and brim-flange, a centrally-apertured metallic base G to which the brim-flange of the rubber is secured and thereby supported, base-plug 40 f fitted in the aperture of the said metallic base G, having the surrounding flange h, underlying the part G adjacent its central aperture, and the bolts i i, the water-supply pipe upwardly entering through said baseplug into the chamber thereabove within said rubber appliance, and means for controlling the inflow and outflow of water, the invertedcup-shaped shell M supported on the top of said base-plug, with a separating-space between it and the said rubber appliance, combined with the female die having the opening therein slightly larger than the normal bulk of the tip and crown-sides portions of the said rubber appliance and having the brim-pressing flange a, and means for imparting the movements of the female die relatively to the male die, substantially as described.

4. In a hat pressing and finishing machine herein described, in combination, the press having the bench or table B, the centrallyapertured base-casting G resting thereon and supporting the rubber appliance E comprising tip, crown-sides, and outwardly-extending flange portions, the latter being vulcanized to the base-casting, the base-plug J fitted in the aperture of said part G having the flange h and fastening screws or bolts 2', the inverted-cup-shaped shell Mwith separatingspace between it and the interior of the part E, and having the ports j, the pipe Q entering upwardly through the said base-plug, and means for insuring the inlet and egress of water therethrough, and the upper metallic female die D, shaped as described, and means for imparting raising and lowering motions thereto, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The male die 0 for a hat'pressing and finishing machine as herein described comprising the centrally-apertured base-casting G having the marginal ledge e and supporting the rubber appliance E comprising tip, crownsides and outwardly-extending flange portions, the latter being vulcanized to the basecasting, and interlocked with said ledge e, the base-plug J fitted in the aperture of said part G having the flange h and fastening screws or bolts 11, the inverted-cup-shaped shell ill with separating-space between it and the interior of the part E, and having the port j, and the water inlet passage entering upwardly through the said base-plug, combined with the upper metallic famale die D, and means for imparting its motions thereto, relatively to the said male die, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this 27th day of September, 1899.

HERBERT S. BLAKE.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, M. A. CAMPBELL. 

